Podcast Guests

Mike and Brian are joined by Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping. Justin started working for his dad at 5 years old with his younger brother laying mulch, pushing wheel barrows, and pulling weeds. As he grew, he realized quickly that school wasn’t for him, went right to work for his dad and fell in love with it. Now as the CEO, and since he took over the company 5 years ago, they’ve grown from $1.5 million to $10 million in annual revenue and are the winners of the 2020 Business of the Year award from their local chamber! Ingredients on how to get there include hard work and very strategic planning. Check out the episode to learn the specifics of HOW the company grew so rapidly and the very intentional steps they took to get it there… and how they plan on growing over the next 10 years.

Mike and Brian are joined by Allan Horn, President and Founder of Precision Wallcovering and Painting. Allan started his career working for his father’s paint and wallpaper retail stores back in the 1970’s. Soon after, he went to work for a wallcovering contractor – couple that with his extensive product knowledge, the stage was set for opening Precision Wallcovering and Painting. Now 41 years later with around 800 jobs a year, their emphasis is on team, culture and excellence. You can see why some of Allan’s best friends who came to work for him 41 years ago still work for him today!

Mike and Brian are joined by Lucas Forte, Founder of Forte Shelter. While at San Diego State University, he was studying business and was specifically interested in logistics for shipping containers worldwide. However, immediately after college he went to work for his uncle’s law firm. His uncle then hired him to manage and build a deck in his backyard with 2 carpenters and an electrician, and he was hooked. After a stint of project management with some large general contracting companies, Lucas took what he knew of shipping containers and construction and brought them together creating Forte Shelter – beautiful high end homes and offices built from shipping containers! They’re on the cutting edge of a revolution in home building! 

Mike and Brian are joined by Jason Coleman, President of Golden Construction. Jason’s father started the company 30 years ago because he was tired of working for others and eventually brought Jason into the company. Now with 20 employees with work spread across 3 different states, they specialize in medical construction – dialysis, ambulatory surgery centers, etc. Jason has now taken the company to another level and his focus is primarily on his team which is why they’re so successful. With some crazy stories on the job, you’ll definitely learn AND enjoy this one!

Mike and Brian are joined by Chris De Ruyter, Co-Founder of Signage Solutions. With recent projects like the Marriott, California Pizza Kitchen, Nordstrom, CHOC Children’s Hospital, and AMC Theaters, their work speaks for itself. In fact, early on, growing up with an entrepreneurial father, that happened to also be a contractor, Chris learned the value of hard work AND creativity that would eventually lead to the success he enjoys today. His father started in dairy, made a soft drink, started car washes, and then eventually signage which brought Chris into the business. Eventually Chris went to work for a different signage company that was in major trouble. Looking back, it was a blessing in disguise. He made some key relationships meeting his partner there and they opened up Signage Solutions. All of their business comes as a result of referrals and word-of-mouth which speaks to their high level of quality in excellence.

Mike and Brian are joined by Michael Biondino, Owner of Refined Roofing and Vice President of Sales at CAT Exteriors. Starting as a laborer for his dad’s construction company as a kid, he learned the trades quickly. Going from his dad’s company, he jumped into sales at CAT Exteriors – a unique transition, but one that makes sense given his experience in the field. Moving up the ladder at CAT Exteriors, he and the owners started Refined Roofing, a contracting company specializing in Commercial Roofing. Passionate about what he does, Michael shows us how excellence, excitement, and devotion to your craft convert to success very quickly.

Mike and Brian are joined by Vazgen Dallakyan, Co-Founder and Sales and Marketing Director of Cobex Construction Group. Immigrating with his family to the United States in 1993 when he was 5 years old, he grew up with a dad working in construction. And like most sons of contractors, he had a job each summer working for his dad and fell in love with the concept of building and creating. Being an immigrant, his parents wanted him to find a “better life” by going to school and getting an education. So, he did just that – he went to college and graduated, majoring in Kinesiology and began working at a gym as a trainer and eventually opened his own studio. Soon after he was “called” back to construction and started Cobex with his 2 partners. That group of 3 grew to 30 employees going into their 4th year! An amazing story of creating something from nothing

Mike and Brian are joined by Gary Nalder, Owner of Elite Plumbing. Originally from New Zealand, he left high school and went straight to the plumbing trade. Wanting to get out of the country, and not a particular fan of his boss in New Zealand, Gary left for Australia and picked up a few trades along the way. Drawn to the beaches of California after watching a special on TV, he booked his ticket and made the move to the US. After several years, he saw the opportunity to make more money in owning his own Plumbing Company. Check out how Gary started Elite Plumbing and the many challenges he faced doing so!

Mike and Brian are joined by Priscilla Chavez, Manager of Business Development of PCL. Starting off as an entrepreneur and consultant, she was recruited to come work for PCL to build a Diversity and Inclusion program from the ground up. As a champion for small, diverse, minority owned contractors, she helped build a program to provide opportunities for contractors that would not otherwise have an opportunity with a large general contracting company like PCL. And now as the Manager of Business Development at PCL, she’s able to take the program she started and usher it in to new channels and verticals! If you’re looking for opportunities as a minority owned business, Priscilla’s words are like gold. Thank you Priscilla for joining us!

Mike and Brian are joined by Dwight Becker, Design Build Project Manager of Facility Builders & Erectors, Inc. A self proclaimed “old fart’ and with 40 years of construction under his belt, his love of construction started in 6th grade shop class. Despite his father’s advice to leave the construction space, Dwight went right to work for a construction company after what he called the worst job ever – selling copiers! Stocked with stories and wisdom in the construction industry, we guarantee you’ll learn a ton from Dwight Becker.